Dispenser



Oct. 6, 1942; l R T CORNIEUUS l2,297,945

DISPENSER Filed May 15, 1940 glu/ummm Richard T. Conelus Patented Oct. 6, 1942 i.) N l T STAT V1,4) Claims.

My invention relates to dispensers and particularly to dispensers for powder contained in a can yhaving a perforate top, and has for an object to provide a dispenserby means of which the powder :may be easily and quickly dispensed.

' Another object of the invention residesinproviding a dispenser which will be extremely neat and attractive in appearance.

Another object of the invention residesV in constructing the -dispenser with a shell open .at the bottom and in which the can containing the powder is received.

An object of the invention resides in providing latching means at the lowermost portion of the shell for detachably supporting the can within the shell.

Another object of the invention resides in em- Iploying a ring received within a groove in the lowermost portion oi the shell for supporting the latching means.

A feature of the nventionresides in splitting said ring'to cause the same to be readily removed from or applied `to the groovein which it is contained.

Another object of the invention resides in `cont structing the latching means vwith a spring arm disposed within the space between'the shell and can and having a catch thereon .and in arranging said spring arm for movement in said space to Vfree the can.

A still further object of the invention resides in providing a support extending upwardly from said ring and from which the spring arm issues.

A-feature of the invention residesin utilizing two spaced supports between which the spring structing the closure conical in form and having .j .a 4central discharge opening therein, said closure providing a space above the perforate top of the can in which the powder to be dispensed rst enters.

Another object of the invention resides in constructing the innermost portionl of the yclosure of the shell with an annular recess for the reception of a gasket adapted to engage the uppermost portion of the can and prevent leakage of the powder downwardly along the sidesof the can.

s to r4the .-upper r`end itheieof. `vided with cut-outs4 M whichare partly separated ,from `thetopproper and which, when pressed inwardly, yform discharge perforations L5 in the top throughz'which thepowdermaybe siitedout of A :featurefof the-inventionresides in the s-pec'ic construction ofthe latching means.

Other objectsof fthelinventionweside inthe novel combination and4 arrangement of parts. and `in thedetails of'construction :hereinafter illustrated and/ or described.

4Ini the drawing:

:Fig 1 is fa longitudinal elevationalsectional view ofa dispenser illustrating an. embodiment of my' invention.

JFig. 2 isa pla-nlsectional view taken on line tion ofthe invention.

.Inmodern kitchens where :cleansing powderand ,similar powders are.11se'd.for `cleansing and other purposes,.itbecomesdesirable to have the powder :in cans :available for ,instant use.

The cans in which suchpowdersare usually sold :areeusually unattractive in;v appearanceand detractfrom' the surroundings ofthe kitchen. The instant inventionaprovides adispenser includinga shell having ornamental features which harmonize with the surroundings and lfrom which Ythe powder contained Vin the shell ,may vbe. readily dispensed :For the purpose v.of illustrating my linvention vIhaveshowna can II) Afor the receptQIl Of'any suitable powder. This can ,consists of a tu'bular ,wall structure Il formed of paper orsomeother Asimilar material. ,bottomllZ ecrimpedvover the, lower end of the Wall The wall structure Il vhas a structure :and similarly a topV I3 likewise secured The top I3 is prothe: can.

.The invention lproper comprises a shell I5 which is'formed witha tubularvwall structure I'l and which1is open at;thebottom. This wall Vstructure is closed by means of a conical closure I 8 ntegraltherewith and which is formedatthe upper centralportion-witha dis-charge outlet I9 of across sectional area lconsiderablygreater than thatofjthe perforations- IIE in the top I'3.

The can, I0 is received within-the `shell-.Iii vand the top I3 thereofisadapted to -engage an annular gasket ZI constructed of sponge rubber ,on some ot-herasim-ilar extremely4 flexible gasket material.

Thisfgasketis received in=an annular lgroove 22 formed upon the underside of the closure I8. The inner diameter of said gasket is suciently large to embrace all of the perforations I5. By means of the conical closure I8 a chamber 23 is formed above the top I3 in which the powder from the can I9 is first sifted before being discharged from the dispenser through the discharge outlet I9.

The uppermost portion of the can I nts freely within the interior of the wall structure I1 of shell I6. The inner surface 24 of said Wall structure is conical and tapers upwardly so that the space 25 between the can I9 and said surface becomes enlarged as indicated at 26 at the lowermost portion of the shell.

The can I0 is held within the shell I6 in the following manner. Extending about the inner surface 24 of the .wall structure I6 at thelowermost portion thereof is an annular groove 21. Received within this groove is a split ring 28, the ends of which are spaced from one another, as indicated at 29, an amount sufcient to permit of springing the ring out of the groove. 'Ihis ring is preferably constructed of resilient material and is held seated in the groove 21 through the resiliency thereof. Attached to the ring 28 at a locality opposite the ends 29 thereof are two upwardly extending supports 3| and 32. This is accomplished by welding the same to th-e ring as indicated at 4|. These supports have issuing downwardly therefrom and disposed therebetween an arm 33. These supports and the arm are'preferably constructed from a strip of sheet material 4D which is provided with slots 34 therein by means of which the'said supports and arm are formed.

The lowermost portion of the arm 33 has issuing inwardly from it a catch 35 which is adapted to engage the lowermost portion of the can Ii) at the rim 36 of the bottom I2 thereof. Catch 35 is constructed with a beveled cam surface 31 which, when the can is inserted into the shell, forces the arm 33 in a direction .toward the conical surface 24 of shell I6 so as to permit the can to clear the catch 35. 'I'he arm 33 is normally bent outwardly, as shown in Fig. l, to urge the catch 35 into engagement with the can I0. The cam 31 projects slightly below the bottom I2 of the can I0 and forms a finger piece by means of which the said catch may be manipulated. Both the supports 3| and 32 and the arm 33 being constructed of a single piece of'sheet material occupy but a limited space so that the arm 33 may have sui'cient movement Within the enlarged portion 26 of the space 25 toward the surface 24 of the shell I6 to free the can.

Issuing substantially radially inwardly from the outer edges of the supports 3| and 32 at the lowermost portions thereof are two flanges 45. These flanges serve to engage the exterior of the can and limit the movement of the can toward the wall structure I1. By means of these flanges the can is held in position while the catch 35 is disengaged from the can. The ends of the flanges are tapered as designated at 46 and 41 in Fig. 4 to facilitate insertion of the can into the shell I6 and removal therefrom,

The method of using the invention is obvious. The cutouts I4 in the can I0 are rst poked inwardly with a suitable tool as anice pick or the like. The can is then inserted into the shell I6 from the underside thereof until the top I3 of the can engages the gasket 2 I. The can is then firmly pressed against said gasket which compresses sufficiently to allow the catch 35 to snap? under 75 the rim 36 of the can. During such movement the flanges 45 guide the can into position. When this occurs pressure is removed from the bottom of the can and the can becomes properly supported within the shell I6. The base 38 of the shell I6 is below the lowermost portion of the cam or finger piece 31 so that the same does not engage the surface on which the dispenser is placed. In using the dispenser the same is inverted and the powder contained within the can I0 is shaken out of the perforations I5. The powder so freed enters the chamber 23 and engages the inner surface 39 of the closure I8 and becomes finally broken up and is discharged from the dispenser through the discharge outlet I9.

-Outlet I9 being centrally located permits of accurately dispensing the powder. By means of the Vgasket 2| the powder is confined solely into the the catch 35, the can drops out by its own weight.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification of the invention. Inasmuch as the shell of the structure shown in Fig. 5 is practically the same as that shown in Figs. l to 4 the same reference numerals will be used to designate the corresponding parts thereof and the description thereof will not be repeated. This form of the invention has two upwardly extending supports |3| and |32. These supports have issuing downwardly therefrom and disposed therebetween an arm |33. Thesesupports and th'e arm are preferably constructed from a strip of sheet material 40 which is provided with slots 34 therein by means of which the said supports and armare formed.

The lowermost portion of the arm |33 has issuing inwardly from it a catch |35 which is adapted to engage the lowermost portion of the can I9 at th'e rim 36 of the bottom I2 thereof. Catch |35 is constructed with a beveled cam surface |31 which, when the can is inserted into the shell, forces the arm I 33 in a direction toward the surface 24 of shell I6 so as to permit the can to clear the catch |35. The arm is normally bent outwardly to urge the catch |35 into engagement with the can I0. The cam |31 projects slightly below the bottom |2 of the can I0 and forms a finger piece by means of which the said catch may be manipulated.

Issuing substantially radially inwardly vfrom the outer edges of the supports'I3I and |32 at the lowermost portions thereof are twoanges |45. These flanges serve to engage th'e exterior of the can and limit the movement of the can'toward the wall structure I1. By means of these flanges the can is held in position while the catch |35 is disengaged from the can. Instead of using 'the ring 28 to attach the supports 3| and 32 'to the receptacle, th'e groove 21 is dispensed with and the supports |3| and |32`are directly attached to the lowermost portion of the wall structure I1 by means of rivets 42 which pass directly through the supports 3| and |32 and are Vriveted upon the exterior of the wall structure |1.

The advantages of my invention VareY manifest. The device is extremely neatand attractive lin appearance and readily lends' itself to ornamentation. By means of the 'gasket'employed the Surface ofthe-wallstructureof the shellto -release powderis confined lto the chamber above the can. With `the ycentral 'opening 'in the conical top lthe powder is easily directed to the desired locality. By means of my improved latch means,

the can can be easily and `quickly inserted into the shell and likewise as easily removed there- -from by manipulating the finger vpiece on the end of the arm having the catch. By constructing the inner surface of the shell conical, sufficient space is provided between the shell and the can at the lower portion thereof to properly manipulate the catch and release the same. By the use of the langes'employed on the latch supports the can can be removed by means of one hand of the user.

Changes in the specic form of my invention, as herein disclosed may be :made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A can holder comprising a shell having a tubular wall structure open at the lower end, for the reception of a can, said wall structure having an annular groove formed therein on the lowermost portion thereof, a ring received within said groove, and latching means carried by said ring for engagement with the can to hold the can within the shell.

2. A dispenser for powder comprising a shell for the reception of a can having a perforate top and containing the powder, said shell having a tubular wall structure open at the lower end, a perforate closure closing the upper end of the wall structure, said closure upon the interior thereof having an annular recess therein, a flexible gasket disposed within said recess, said gasket being adapted to engage the uppermost portion of the can, said recess and gasket being of smaller dimensions than the inner periphery of the shell at the uppermost portion thereof and said gasket projecting below the closure to provide a space for the reception of the bead of the can.

3. A dispenser for powder contained in a can having a perforate top, said dispenser comprising a shell having a dispensing top and a tubular wall structure open at the lower end and adapted to receive the can, an elongated support secured to said tubular wall structure near the lowermost end thereof and extending upwardly along said wall structure and in the space between said wall structure and can, an arm issuing downwardly from the upper end of said support and extending along said support and to a position below the bottom of said can, a catch on the lower end of said arm for engagement with the lowermost portion of the can, said catch being movable in a direction toward the inner surface of the tubular wall structure of the shell to release the can.

4. A dispenser for powder contained in a can having a perforate tcp, said dispenser comprising a shell having a dispensing top and a tubular wall structure open at the lower end and adapted to receive the can, a pair of spaced elongated supports secured to said wall structure near the lowermost end thereof and extending upwardly along said wall structure and in the space between said wall structure and can, an arm issuing downwardly from the upper ends of said supports and disposed between the same, a catch on the lower end of said arm for engagement with the lowermost portion of the can, said catch being movable in a direction toward the inner the can.

5. A dispenser for powder contained in a can having a perforatetop, said dispenser comprising a shell having a-dispensing top and a tubular vwall structure open at the'lower end and adapted "to receive the can, an elongated support secured to said wall structure near the lowermost end 3thereof and extending upwardly along said wall structure and `in the space between said wall structure and^can,-a spring arm issuing downwardly from the upper end of said support and 'extending along said support, a catch on the .lower end of said spring arm for engagement with the lowermost portion of the can, said spring arm being urged to bring the catch into engagement with the can and being movable in the opposite direction and toward the inner surface of the wall structure of the shell to release the can.

6. A dispenser for powder contained in a can having a perforate top, said dispenser comprising a shell having a dispensing top and a tubular wall structure formed with a conical inner surface, and being open at the lower larger end for the reception of the can, said can fitting freely within the smaller upper end of the shell and being spaced from the conical surface of the wall structure at the lower end of the shell, and latching means for holding the can within the shell, said latching means being disposed within and movable in the space between the can andthe lowermost portion of the conical surface of the wall structure of the shell torelease the can.

7. A dispenser for powder contained in a can having a perforate top, said dispenser comprising a shell having a dispensing top and a tubular wall structure open at the lower end and adapted to receive the can, said wall structure having an annular groove formed therein at the lowermost portion thereof, a ring received within said groove, a support secured to said ring and extending upwardly therefrom and into the space between said shell and can, an arm secured to said support y.and depending therefrom and extending adjacent said support in the same space, a catch secured to the lowermost portion of the arm and adapted to engage the can to hold the same within the shell, said catch being movable in a transverse direction Within said space between the can and shell to release the can.

8. A dispenser for powder contained in a can having a perforate top, said dispenser comprising a shell having a dispensing top and a tubular wall structure open .at the lower end and adapted to receive the can, said wall structure having an annular groove formed therein at the lowermost portion thereof, a split ring of resilient material urged through its resiliency to become seated in said groove, and latching means carried by said ring for engagement with the can to hold the can within the shell.

9. A dispenser for powder contained in a can having a perforate top, said dispenser comprising a shell having a dispensing top and a tubular wall structure open at the lower end and adapted to receive the can, an elongated support secured to said tubularwall structure near the lowermost end thereof and extending upwardly along said wall structure and in the space between said wall structure and can, an arm issuing downwardly from the upper end of said support and extending along said support and to a position below the bottom of said can, a catch on the lower end of said arm for engagement with the lowermost portion of the can, said catch being movable in a direction toward the inner surface of the tubular wall structure of the shell to release the can, and means on said support for engaging the can to restrain movement of the can toward the inner surface of the wall structure.

l0. A dispenser for powder contained in a can having a perforate top, said dispenser comprising a shell having a dispensing top and a tubular wall structure open at the lower end and adapted to receive the can, an elongated support secured to said tubular Wall structure near the lowermost end thereof and extending upwardly along said wall structure and in the space between said Wall structure and can, an arm issuing downwardly from the upper end of said support and extending along said support and to a position below the bottom of said can, a catch on the lower end of said arm for engagement with the lowermost portion of the can, said catch being movable in a direction toward the inner surface of the tubular Wall structure of the shell to release the can, and a ange on said support issuing substantially radially inwardly therefrom for engaging the can to restrain movement of the can toward the inner surface of the wall structure.

RICHARD T. CORNELIUS. 

